Detachable open link for drive-chains.



PATE NTED MAR. 3, 1903.

, J. M. DODGE.

DETAGHABLE OPEN LINK FOR-DRIVE CHAINS.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 8 1902,

10 MODEL.

UNITED STATES P TENT OFFICE- JAMES M. DODGE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE LINK BELT ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVA- NIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

DETAOHABLE O P EN LINK FOR DRIVE-CHAINS.

5PECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 722,002, dated March 3, 1903.

Application filed December 8, 1902. Serial No. 134,386. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES M. DODGE, a citizen of the United States, residing in Phila delphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Detachable Open Links for Drive-Chains,of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a modification of the link shown in the application for patent filed by me on the 4th day of December, 1902, Serial No. 133,903. I

The object of my invention is to make a drive-chain of the type in which the links have projecting teeth engaging the teeth of a sprocket-wheel that guide-flanges can be dispensed with and the links can be readily detached one from another. Thisobject I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved chain-link. Fig. 2 is a side view. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4 is a view showing a chain made up of a series of links and in engagement with the teeth of a sprocket-wheel, and Fig. 5 is a plan View of a portion of the sprocket-wheel.

B isa chain-link, preferably made in asingle piece and in the form of a Y, having two side members D D and a central extension O, the extension being of such a width that it will fit between the side members of an adjoining link. Connecting the two side members to gether at the outer end is a pivot-bar b, and in the extension 0 is a socket c, in which the pivot-bar of an adjoining link rests. The socket c is open at the top for the purpose mentioned hereinafter.

Projecting from each side member D D of the link is a tapered tooth E, and projecting from the extension 0 is a tapered tooth F.

The fiat bearing-faces of these teeth rest.

against the bearing-faces of the teeth a a of the sprocket-wheel A, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The sprocket-wheel has three series of teeth. The outside series a a alternate with the central series a, as shown in Fig. 5. The bearing-faces e of the teeth E of thelinks aline with the bearing-faces of the sprocket-teeth a a, while the bearing-faces f of the teeth F of the links aline with the bearing-faces of the sprocket-teeth a, as shown in Fig. 4. The sprocket-teeth a project through the openings B in the links formed by the two side members D D. Thus while a good bearing is gained the chain is also kept in alinement withontthe use of guard-flanges usually employed in this class of drive-chains.

In order to make the links detachable, I form a recess 61 on the side member D between the pivot-pin b and the tooth E, so as to allow for the passage of the lip c, which forms the socket c on the extension 0. To couple the links together, all that is necessary is to turn one link at an angle in respect to the other until the recess (1 is in line with the lip c and then move one laterally in respect to the other, when the socket will slip over the pivot bar b, and by turning the links so that theywill be in line they will be locked together-and cannot be moved laterally.

All that is necessary to detach one link from another is to turn it to the proper angle and move it laterally.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination inachain-and-sprocket driving-gear, of a sprocket-wheel havingthree series of teeth, and a series of enchained links having teeth at each end engaging the said teeth of the sprocket-wheel, the links being open at the center for the reception of the central series of teeth of the sprocket-wheel, substantially as described.

2. Thecombinationinachain-and-sprocket drivinggear, of a sprocket-wheel having three series of teeth anda chain consisting of coupled links, each link having side members and a central extension, teeth on the side members and on the extension, a cross-bar extending'from one side member to the other, a socket in the extension arranged to receive the bar of an adjoining link, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a sprocketwheel having a series of side teeth and a series of central teeth, the teeth of the central series alternating with the teeth of theside series, with a chain made up of a series of links, each link having side members and a'central extension, a pivot-bar extending from one side member to the other, a socket on the extension arranged to receive the pivot-bar of an adjoining link, the outer teeth of the sprocket-wheel being in line with the teeth of the side members of the links, While the central teeth are in line with the teeth of the extensions, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a sprocket-Wheel having a series of teeth at each side and a central series of teeth alternating with the teeth of the side series, a chain made up of links having toothed side members and a toothed central member, a pivot-bar extending from one side member to the other, a socket in the central extension to receive the pivot-bar of an adjoining tooth, one of the JAMES M. DODGE.

Witnesses:

WILL. A. BARR, J 0s. 11. KLEIN. 

